Hollywood will honour the best in television at the Emmys on Sunday. However, the awards show – like most things in the pandemic-era world – will look totally different.
And maybe that's a good thing. Here are five things to watch out for on Sunday night.
How will it all work?
Late-night TV show funnyman Jimmy Kimmel will take to the stage at a nearly empty venue in Los Angeles to host the Emmys, as the stars will be elsewhere.
Producers have sent camera equipment to about 130 A-list nominees in several countries around the world, and the winners will accept their awards live.
Technical difficulties, expletives dropped on air, wardrobe malfunctions: the set-up seems tailor-made for at least a few hiccups, but experts say that could be a boost overall.
"I think it's got the potential to actually be a breakthrough for awards shows, and actually shake up the whole format, make it interesting," said Deadline awards columnist Pete Hammond.
Kimmel is the host who had to handle the notorious Best Picture Oscar bungle in 2017, so industry observers say if anyone is prepared to deal with the unknown, he's the man.
"I really think he's going to be able to roll with the punches better than maybe anyone else who could be in that position," IndieWire TV awards editor Libby Hill told AFP.
The Creative Arts Emmys has already taken place, giving us a glimpse of how it will work:
What about the fashion?
There is no red carpet, of course, so how the stars will appear on camera is anyone's guess. Organisers have encouraged participants to embrace comfort over couture.
Scroll through the gallery above to see last year's red carpet in pictures.
"Our informal theme for the night is 'Come as you are, but make an effort!" said a letter sent to nominees by organisers in July, according to Variety.
"If you want to be in formal wear, we'd love that, but equally if you're in the UK and it's 3am, perhaps you want to be in designer pyjamas and record from your bed!"
So will stars don glamorous gowns anyway, hoping for a winning fashion moment, or instead go for the tie-dye loungewear that has become the ubiquitous version of lockdown chic?
Stay tuned.
Can Netflix win a major award?
Since entering the fray with flagship original dramas such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, streaming giant Netflix has scooped a ton of Emmys – but never one for Best Drama, Best Comedy or Best Limited Series. Is this the year?
Dark crime series Ozark is leading the nominations in the drama categories with 18, but it is tied with HBO's family business hit show Succession.
And while Netflix prevailed in terms of total nominations with 160 to HBO's 107, it has yet to pull in a major prize. HBO, meanwhile, has done it many times before with The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City and Veep.
This year, beyond Succession, it also has Watchmen, the overall top Emmy nomination trawler with 26, and a major contender this year for Best Limited Series and beyond.
"What Netflix has going for it is it has just the bulk amount of nominations," Hill said. "And sometimes it's not quantity, it's quality of nominations. And I think that's where HBO is at right now."
Who are the Emmy newcomers?
The absolute glut of original content now available to television viewers is astounding.
From traditional broadcast and cable networks, to new streamers such as Disney+ and Apple TV+, to short-form video platform Quibi, there is something for everyone.
Who will break through this year? So far, in the Emmys handed out before the main ceremony in technical categories, Disney+ and Quibi are going strong.
Disney has snared five statuettes for its Star Wars original series The Mandalorian.
Could Apple TV+ be shut out despite the high-wattage cast of The Morning Show starring nominees Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup and Mark Duplass?
Apple TV+ "wanted to be this place for prestige television, but I think behind the scenes, it didn't necessarily have people knowledgeable in television making the decisions," Hill said. "It can take streamers a while to break through. But that Disney+ did it with such relative ease is really salt in the wound."
What is the category to watch?
Of course, the Emmy nominee list reads like a who's who in Hollywood, but one category stands out for its competitiveness: Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie.
Three Oscar winners – Regina King (Watchmen), Cate Blanchett (Mrs America) and Octavia Spencer (Self Made) will battle for the title.
Their competition? A major debut from Shira Haas in the critically acclaimed Unorthodox and Kerry Washington's tour de force in Little Fires Everywhere.
King is the favourite for her starring role in Watchmen – HBO's comic book adaptation that takes on US racism and police violence – but anything can happen on Emmys night.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Racecard
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Revival
Eminem
Interscope
The five pillars of Islam
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
